What conception of the cosmos had dominated astronomical thought for centuries before Hubble's discoveries?
Answer
A finite island of stars called the Milky Way.
For most people, the entirety of creation consisted of the Milky Way galaxy, viewed as a vast but ultimately finite island of stars, a conception that had dominated astronomical thought for centuries.
Related Questions
What conception of the cosmos had dominated astronomical thought for centuries before Hubble's discoveries?Which astronomical phenomenon was Hubble instrumental in resolving through his distance measurements?By what astronomical characteristic did Hubble precisely calculate the distance to nebulae like Andromeda?What was the immediate result of Hubble measuring Andromeda to be millions of light-years away?What startling conclusion did Hubble draw in 1929 regarding the velocity and distance of other galaxies?Who established the redshift measurements that Hubble and Humason utilized to plot galactic velocities?Which specific powerful telescope was crucial for Hubble's observations that shattered the old cosmic view?What intellectual shift did the discovery of universal expansion introduce to the established understanding of the cosmos?What previous scientific work, established by Henrietta Swan Leavitt, was fundamental to Hubble's distance calculations?What did Hubble’s empirical work establish as the necessary path forward for answering fundamental questions in modern physics?What effect did the revelation of billions of galaxies have on humanity’s perceived significance?